Family of man hit by fire truck looks for answers

While the family of a 55-year-old St. Augustine man who was killed in a bicycle accident Saturday looks for answers, the investigation into the incident is wrapping up.

John Allen Siehl, 1236 Cypress Road, was hit by a St. Johns County fire truck driven by Craig Lee Silcox, en route to an alarm at Serenata Village, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Siehl was dead at the scene.

But according to Siehl's ex-wife Cathy Champagne, who lives in Oklahoma, his six children don't know anything about funeral arrangements. She said she did not know of anyone related to him who lived in Florida.

Champagne -- who divorced Siehl more than 20 years ago -- said all she wants is for his children to know where their father is buried. Two of Siehl's children are with Champagne and four are with a second wife, she said.

"The children would like to know that he has been put away, somehow, in a decent manner," she said.

Champagne said she and Siehl's children have not had much contact with him over the years.

Champagne said she was told of the accident by an aunt who didn't provide anymore information other than that Siehl was dead.

According to Champagne, the police notified Siehl's mother after the accident. She then told Champagne's aunt.

But Champagne doesn't know where Siehl's mother lives -- or even her last name. After the divorce, Champagne said his mother stopped talking to her.

Siehl's daughter Julie Poland from Oklahoma said she tried to contact him last week. She said she was shocked when she heard the news and added that while she hadn't spoken to him in a year, he always called her back.

"He didn't this time, so I figured he was fixed up in something," Poland said.

Champagne said Siehl worked many different jobs, off and on, throughout his life and moved around a lot.

"He was a good person," she said.

He had lived in St. Augustine for two years before the accident, she told The Record.

The accident happened Saturday at 5:30 a.m. in the dark.

Siehl reportedly was not wearing a helmet, and his bike had no reflectors.

The fire truck driver from station 12, Silcox, was put on administrative leave until the investigation is complete -- which fire officials say is standard procedure for the department. No charges were filed after the accident, and county Fire Marshall Frank McElroy said he didn't expect any.

"At this point, none of the investigating agencies have indicated that he is at fault in any way," McElroy said.

The county fire department investigation showed that Silcox was not in violation of any procedures or policies, McElroy said. He added that Silcox is expected to return to active duty pending the results of a drug test taken Saturday, which was also standard procedure.

Silcox did not have any major traffic violations on his personnel file at the county, McElroy said.